
Name: Eunice Aluko
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Votes: 0
Control
Your Wheel
Sitting
down in a gym full of about 500 students, I questioned the reason
behind our presence in this assembly. However, as the screen lit up
and a face of a distressed lady appeared, all thoughts and attention
were on the screen before me. Tears, sadness, shock, anger, and
sorrow all flowed from that single being and yet the emotions hit the
hearts of hundreds. The lady was a mother of a teenage girl, she
described the despair that filled her once she learned about the
fatal car accident that took her daughter’s life. I was shocked at
how one irresponsible act could cause so much pain to another being
and was shocked when I felt tears streaming down my face and, as I
looked around, the faces of others as well. Regret was what stood out
to me, she regretted not bringing her daughter to educational driving
classes, she regretted not alerting her daughter of the risks, she
regretted not emphasizing the importance of driving. Regret, regret,
regret. Not long after that I almost lost my friend in a car
accident, that is when I believe that reality sunk in because as I
listened to my friend described how she had been hit by a reckless
driver, I couldn’t stop thinking about how a complete stranger
could have taken my friend away unrightfully, permanently scarring
the lives of those who loved her.
Educating
a mind about the overlooked risks in driving has never been so
important in our growing community, according to the Association for
Safe International Road Travel, nearly 1.25 million people die in
road crashes every year and more than half of them occurring among
young adults; this is a growing epidemic. The growing influence of
drugs, and cellular distractions are becoming major causes of this
global issue. As a sibling to four boys, their safety has become my
priority especially when they are on the road. Encouraging those
around me to participate in educational driving classes ensures that
the pain that the mother on the screen had will never inhabit the
hearts of anyone else. Driving classes display a step in
responsibility from the driver, it shows a sort of respect not only
for one’s life but for the lives of those around them.
Educating the public
with experiences from those around the world is a great step, because
as I sat down in the quiet gym with my school, I saw sadness erupt
from those that I had never talked to, my friends, my teachers and
even from myself. This image dictated the unity we as humans can
express when the experiences of those are shared. As for myself I aim
to participate in safe driving campaigns, take classes myself, and
encourage the public to take classes. These small actions not only
acknowledge the risks but most importantly they acknowledge the lives
that we share the road with, they wake us up. Take control of your
wheel.